Category Archives: Air Force

Then we started practicing at night…

Air Force, Army,

Monday October 5th, 1970
…exactly 50 years ago today.

The first real-time (2:18am H-Hour) Full Profile was flown on this day (but with abbreviated flight time) with all aircraft and Green Berets aboard.

I was, by no means, the biggest man. In fact, I was second shortest. The shortest raider was also the oldest NCO, Master Sergeant Galen “Pappy” Kittleson. Pappy was no stranger to combat. Pappy and I had several things in common. We were both short and stocky built. We both grew up on a farm in the Midwest. In World War II, Pappy was the youngest man in the raid on the Cabanatuan POW camp in the Philippines. I was the youngest man on this raid, 25 years junior to Pappy.

[John Gargus’ book The Son Tay Raid: American POWs in Vietnam Were Not Forgotten, on page 24, explains a little about me being the youngest raider.]

Pappy was a quiet man, but always knew what he was doing. He made history on the Son Tay Raid as the only American soldier to be on four POW raids. Pappy was well respected by everyone.

[On a side note, Pappy visited my family after he retired. In his hometown of Toeterville, Iowa, he started a group called the Alamo Scouts. It was for kids that were considering the military or kids who could just use some direction in their life. Pappy suggested to my daughter to come to his summer camp to see if she would like the military. Sadly, Pappy died a couple of months before Hana was able to attend his training camp. I attended Pappy’s funeral and it was amazing how many men that had been in Pappy’s Alamo Scout group attended to show their love and respect for him. There were doctors, military men, an FBI agent and many, many friends and family. Pappy had left an impact on a lot of people. Ross Perot paid for his headstone listing many of his accomplishments. At Pappy’s funeral, someone asked me if I was Pappy’s son—I was truly honored to receive that compliment! Pappy was a true American Hero!]

Pat St.Clair (nearest) and Pappy Kittleson (the elder of the group) debriefing in a hangar at Duke Field after a night run of the mission.

Read Sgt Terry Buckler’s full story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.

Death.

Air Force, Army,

Training with helicopters at the Mockup at Eglin AFB…

Thursday October 1st, 1970

…exactly 50 years ago this week

When we first started training using the helicopters, the plan called for Capt Dan to be the first man off and for me to be the second.

Now, I had watched enough war movies to know that the first men off any vehicle get killed. For a couple of weeks, we trained this way. I thought, Oh s**t, we aren’t even going to make it off the chopper. I can now admit that every time I stepped off the chopper, the thought went through my mind of getting zapped before my foot even hit the ground.

Then after a few rehearsals, the plan changed to where Capt Dan and I were the last two off the chopper. All of the sudden, I thought, Damn, now that I’m the last guy off, the bad guys will get their sights locked on. I will get nailed for sure!

Eventually I had to admit that, if the good Lord wants me, He doesn’t care if I am the first, last or in the middle. My Maker is going to bring me home when it’s my time.

Life Lesson 5: Be Prepared for Death. Don’t worry about it. You can’t completely control it. Make sure that the day you meet your Maker is not the first time you’ve been introduced. If you are prepared at all times, you’re free to live life fearless.

The “minigun” at the tail of the helicopters. You can read about this amazing weapon in Who Will Go.

Read Sgt Terry Buckler’s full story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.

The Air Force MC-130s training at Eglin AFB…

Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy,

Tuesday Sept 29th, 1970

…exactly 50 years ago this week.

Story by USAF Major Irl Franklin, Cherry 1

After arriving at Eglin and getting our aircraft bedded down, we were ushered into the briefing room at Special Operations Forces (SOF) Headquarters. Much to my surprise, we walked into a group of 200 people. I noticed Special Forces, other Army personnel (UH-1 pilots), Air Force personnel including A-1 crews, HH-53 crews, HH-3 crews and LtCol Albert “Friday” Blosch’s MC-130 Combat Talon crew from Pope AFB. Then, focusing upon the front of the room, I noticed BGen Leroy Manor, Colonel Bull Simons, and some HQ USAF Staff.

We were told, “You are here to work on a joint exercise that could develop into a dangerous mission. If anyone in the room wishes to be excused, you may leave now, and no questions will be asked.”

A silence fell over those gathered.

People looked around the room and at the front of the room and did not move. A period went by with no one moving or speaking, then BGen Manor said, “Excellent. I am glad you are all with us because you have all been chosen for your unique experience and abilities which will make the mission a success.” Administrative details were covered and we were dismissed to go to our quarters to ponder the next actions.

The next day, Combat Talon (MC-130) aircraft commanders along with one navigator and one electronic warfare officer (EWO) from each crew met with the chiefs of the A-1 group, the helicopter group, and the Special Forces group in the SOF briefing room. This time we were briefed on the mission and the training that we would undergo. We were told of the mission objective, the deployment bases, and were asked to develop the routes and methods of getting to Son Tay.

Thus, began numerous days of flight planning! The remaining crew members and participants were to be kept in the dark as to the mission we were training for. (KITD-FOHS: Kept In The Dark—Fed Only Horse S**t)

We had aerial photos of the routes, the POW camp, and other items of interest (such as SAM sites). We had our own photo interpreter and intelligence people available.

Cherry 1 (Photo provided by Bill Guenon)
Standing (l-r): Sgt Robert Renner (support), TSgt William Kennedy, TSgt James Shepard, MSgt Leslie Tolman, TSgt Kenneth Lightle, SSgt Earl Parks.
Front: Major Thomas Mosley, Capt James McKenzie, Capt Thomas Stiles, Capt Thomas Eckart, Capt William Guenon, Capt Randall Custard, Major Irl Franklin

Read the rest of Irl Franklin’s story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.

Gen Manor and Bull brief the CIA and Joint Chiefs of Staff…

Air Force, Army, Marines, Navy, POW,

…exactly 50 years ago this past weekend.

Story by USAF 1st Lt Mickey Batsell, General’s Aide for Brig General Leroy Manor

As preparations for the Son Tay rescue mission began, the daily routine changed. It was important to continue as much as possible all appearances of “everything as usual.” Normal duty hours continued from 7:30am to 4:30pm. Head home for dinner as normal. But then it was back to the office around 8pm until the early hours of the morning.

Security was of utmost concern. We made several trips to Andrews AFB and the Pentagon. I was charged with carrying a briefcase containing a number of classified documents.

One night back at SOF HQ (USAF Special Operations Forces headquarters at Eglin AFB) around 2am, BGen Manor called me and asked me to round up Colonel Bull Simons to come to a meeting in his office. I promptly went to Colonel Simons quarters to extend the invitation.

When I arrived, one of Colonel Simons’ NCOs was sitting outside the front door. I explained to the NCO that BGen Manor would like Colonel Simons to come to a meeting. The sergeant told me that Colonel Simons was asleep. I asked the sergeant to wake him up. His reply: “With all due respect, lieutenant, you can wake him up.”

I was a bit stunned by that and started to take a step through the door. “You might want to think twice about that sir, because the Colonel sleeps with a loaded 45 under his pillow.”

I heeded the sergeant’s advice and paused to consider my options. After a few pensive moments, I said, “Sarge, when he wakes up, would you tell him that BGen Manor needs to see him?” The good sergeant replied, “Yes sir,” and I went on my way.

In the image from the Log, you see that Bull Simons (BGen Manor was there too) briefed the Director of the CIA, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the commander of Pacific Command (John McCain’s father).

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff: Admiral Thomas Moorer.
The Commander of Pacific Command:
Admiral McCain (father of Senator John McCain, who was a POW at the time).
The Director of the CIA : Richard Helms

Read the rest of Mickey Batsell’s story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.

Learning what the Chainsaw was for…

Air Force, Army,

Thursday Sept 24th, 1970
…exactly 50 years ago this week

During our early walkthroughs, we learned that a couple of our men from Redwine were going to have to bring down some power poles to make the LZ safer for when the helicopters return to pick us up.

<<Fast forward to the actual Raid.  Here’s how bringing down the poles turned out to be more complicated than we thought.>>

“0228 hours, November 21st, 1970
Son Tay, North Vietnam

One of Redwine’s roles was to clear the planned LZ by cutting down light poles. That task revealed one frustrating surprise.

We had brought a chainsaw to cut down certain wooden telephone poles, but Sgt 1st Class Charles Masten and Sgt 1st Class Ronnie Strahan were to blow up a tall, concrete light pole.
The moment that Masten and Strahan had finished placing the four one-pound packets of C-4 explosive, were ready to blow, and were confirming that they should activate the fuse, Apple 1 was arriving (it had been delayed)! They waited until Apple 1 had landed, offloaded Greenleaf, and departed.

Ensured of safety, they detonated the C-4. BAAMM!

As the pole rose into the air in a huge flash of light, Masten and Strahan could see that this was NOT a light pole—it had four large high-tension power lines! Dancing sparks were everywhere as the four huge power lines hit the rice paddies—the very rice paddies in which our soldiers and POWs would be marshalling to load the returning choppers!

Were we going to have to find a new location for the LZ?

Masten, Strahan, and Capt Jim McClam, as MACO (Marshalling Area Control Officer), immediately set about ensuring they understood the location of all the lines and whether they were hot. After assessing the situation and ensuring there were no other potential hazards, they began placing the “beanbag lights” in an area suitably distant from the power lines.

Life Lesson 7: Don’t be a Complainer. The world is moving on and needs people to solve problems. Evaluate your situation, make a decision, and execute any new plan without complaining and feeling sorry for yourself.”

See the “BLOWN POWER POLE” in the reconnaissance image, after the mission.

Read Sgt Terry Buckler’s full story in Who Will Go.

Click Here:  The book.